“Shiver” by Maggie Stiefvater

Opening Lines: I can remember lying in the snow, a small red spot of warm going cold, surrounded by wolves. They were licking me, biting me, worrying at my body, pressing in.

Memorable Quote: Hope hurt more than the cold

Favorite Character: Beck

Summary:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can’t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human … until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It’s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human–or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Review:

I’ve been looking forward to reading this book for a while, because I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. I have to say that I was mildly disappointed. The main characters, Sam and Grace, tell the story through alternating points of view. A definite plus, because the reader gets a look at the werewolf life versus the human life. But they don’t seem very fully developed, and there were some parts of the story where I sat back and asked myself how that could have possibly happened. I seriously think I missed a few pages…Or chapters…

The ending really saved it for me. The last forty pages or so were action packed and kept me interested, unlike the beginning.

Throughout the novel Grace mentions her friends Rachel and Olivia. These seem like the only two friends she has, and when Sam comes along, she drops them to cling to him 24/7. Not very loyal. Rachel and Olivia only pop up when convenient for the plot, casually vanishing into the background at all other times.

I know the sequel is coming out soon. Sometime next month, I think. I might borrow it from the library, or a friend, just to see what will happen. Not worth purchasing, however.

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14 thoughts on ““Shiver” by Maggie Stiefvater”

From what you’ve written, it sounds like an interesting premise, but fails on the delivery. I was going to give ‘Shiver’ a pass, but I think your review has made me want to check it out. I like stories with werewolves and this one seems like a different take on the whole mythology.

I love your background by the way, so ornate! Different from other book blogs I’ve been to. Keep up the good work 🙂

I don’t agree at all with this review. No offense but I think that the characters were completely developed and I think if you were in Grace’s situation you would do the same thing you did to be with your “soul mate”.